Pneumatic tire.



H. B. GILLEW TE. PNEUMATIC TIRE. APPLIOATION PILED JUNBI, 1912,

Patented June 28 1914 STATES PATENT oFFIo t;

HEEBEBT 1B GILLETTE, 0] GRAN D RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 1'0 THE PENINSULK arms sun surmise. COMPANY, or enen'n MICHIGAN.

RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A GORPQE ATZIUW 0F mmmsrxc arms.

Application filed 3111107, 191% Serial No. 7 02,147.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT B. Gimwm, e citizen of the United States, IeSldIHg at the city of Grand Rapids, county of Kent,

and State of Michigan, have invented certum new and useful Improvements in Pneu rustic Tires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tires,

The main objects of this inventlon are First, to provide an improved pneumatic tire which is durable in use and is not likely to be injured by punctures or blowout s,

Second, to provide, an improved tire ele merit adapted as a, protector for pneumatic tires which does not materially affect the elasticity or resiliency of the tire, and which at the seine time effectivelyprotects the in nor tube.

'lihirrl, to provide an improved tire element havingthese advantages whichmny be readily inserted in either new or a, used pneumatic tire of the common: type consisting of an outer casing, and an inner tube or pneumatic tube.

Further objects, and objects relating to stIl'rCtu-Tal details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

'lhe invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a, preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing. forming a part of this specification, in which Figure I is a, side elevation of a, tire embodying the features oi my invention. Fig. H is an enlarged detail cross section taken on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Figs. I and Ill. Fig. HI is a detail longitudinal section taken on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. II, the articulating ring 5 being shown partially in full lines, the innor tube being omitted. Fig. IV is a detail perspective View 013 a; pair of the members 2. Fig. V is a cross section on 2. line corresponding to line 5--5 of Fig. 1V

in the drawing similar reference charcoters rel e to similar pests throughout the several views, and the sectionelviewssre taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the nds of the section lines.

ing 1 is shownin conventional. form. end is indicated as being formed of rubber. it is ing. My improved protector element cornprises a plurality of crescent shaped or se mental members 2 preferably formed of 1' her or other suitable rcsilie materiel, These members 2, are in prs ice, about an tend well up On the side of the casing wrath as by. suitableccuplin'g 6,'-see Fig. Ill. The curvature of t e notches is greater than a half circle so that when the members are engaged on the tubing they use not likely to be accidentally disengaged.

The members 2 are-preferably tapered inwardly in cross section,see Fig. V. The arms oftlie members are also preferably tapered toward their ends so that when the mcmbers are placed on the ring; they lit together. The members are placed within the casing under c0mpression,-thst is, ther are a suificient number of the members 2 on th ring so that their sides are held in con tact by their own resiliency. The sides of the members 2' are preferably provided with c'o-engaging tongues and grooves 7 and 8 reoutwardly. from the ringengaging notches 4 Well toward the ends. The grooves are of such width as topermit a limited in and out movement of a member independent of the adjacent members. The articulate ing' ring 5 being formed of tubing, permits it free expansion of the members 211ml the members, eflectivel gri the ring so that they do not slide or shift their positions thereon. The articulating ringis also en tirely flexible and resilient and does not add materially to the rigidity of the tire. The

Referring to the drawing, the outer one my intention to use any suitable outer ee s inch or an inch-and a, quarter long and r brace the greater portion of the sides of the the ring. The ends of tube are joineri spectively'. The tongues and grooves extend.

'Eorccs the protector with the outer cascue jointed support for the event of the outer :rtcd with nail or the no nail engaging one of I penetrated. 'llhis, ordiomt between the member. I the member yields outlilloi g penetrated to prevent the inner tube or the nail member. In the event the outer casing and apair of. the members 2,

deflected by the yieldand the joint tongue the inner tube and is rr the other of the memo? cuts or like openin s 331 33, the members Zefiective y and, grooves on the sides of the '5 may omitted and the-strum r be veryellicient and sat sfac nave illustrated and described my imvcinem s in detail rnthe form-now orebyv Laue. l have not attempts to illustrate or describe various modifications which contemplate, as such modifications will, from the disclosure made, be readily understood by those skilled in the art to "which. invention relates. I desire, however. to ns'idcrstood as claiming my im- :vemcnts in the specific form illustrated ll as broadly within the scope of the ode-d. claims. The generic claims of my invention, however, as to certain features appear in my companion 'n pplication filcd 'lctcber 6, 1912, Serial No. 724,499.

Having thus described my invention, what it claim new and desire to secure by Letntent is:

It. a tire, the combination with an outer and a pneumatic tube, of a protector interposed between the casing and tube comprh f a ring of tubular resilient material and crescent shaped members of resilient i'al having curved notches at their bases ring, the curvature of the being than a half circle, said zbcrs' b mg inwardly tapered in cross member will ordinarily notches and prevent the inner, roving out ,thcrethrough. The

2,. In a tire, the combination with an outer casing and a pneumatic tube, of a. protector interposed between the casing and tube comprising a ri-n of tubular resilientmaterml and crescent s aped members of resilient material havin curved notches at their bases engaging said ring, the curvature of the eing greater than a halt circle, sald members being inwardly tapered in cross section, the members being arranged on said ring within said outer casing under compression, the pneumatic tube belng arranged within said protector element.

3. In a tire, the combination with an outer casing and a pneumatic tube, of a protector interposed between the casing and tube comprisin a ring of resilient material and crescent s oped members of resilient material having notches at their bases engaging said ring, the said members provided with 00- cngaging tongues and grooves on their sides, the grooves being of such width as to permit limited collapsin or expanding movement of each member independently of its adjacent members, the members being-arranged on said ring within said outer casing under compression, the pneumatic tube being arranged within said protector element.

4-. In a tire, the combination with an outer casing and a pneumatic tube; of a protector interposed between the casing and tube comprising an articulating ring and segmental members having notches at their bases engaging said ring, the said members provided with co-enga'ging tongues and grooves on their sides, the grooves being of such width as to permit limited ollapsing or expanding movement of'cach member independently of its adjacent members.

5. An element for pneumatic tires comprising a ring of tubular resilientmaterial and crescent shaped members of resilient material having curved notches at their bases engagin said ring, the curvature of the notches being greater than a half circle, 110

said members being inwardly tapered in cross section and provided with coenga ing tongues and grooves on their sides extending outwardly from each side of the ring on eging notches, the grooves being of such width 115 as to permit limited collapsing or expanding movement of each member independently of its adjacent members. i

6. A tire element comprising a resilient articulating ring and segmental members 120 having notches at their bases engaging said ring, the said members provided with coengaging tongues and grooves on their sides, the grooves being of such width as-to permit limited collapsing or expanding movement 125 of each member independently of its cent members.

" An element for pneumatic tires comprising an outer casing and an inner tube adjacomprising a ring of tubular resilient ma- 130 8 v i and crescent shaped members of rsilimy hand andseal in the presence of two e i; e mterml adapted to embrace the mner Witnesses. J- u mbe and hm'mg curved notches on then confeces engaging said ring the curvature HERBEM GILLETTE flue nofiches bemg greater than a half W1tnesses: eie. GRACE L. \SENNA,

sutness whereof, I have hereunto set \VILLIAM -O. HUGHAW. 

